Japan Today

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Posted in: Parents of schoolboy liable for Y15 million after wayward soccer ball leads to man’s death See in context

this is the single most absurd judicial decision I have heard in a heck of a long time. The kid was playing soccer at school. He did absolutely nothing wrong in any conceivable way. Are parents supposed to go to school with their kids to 'supervise' them? Should teh school ban soccer playing? totally ridiculous.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Posted in: 'Paris Cannibal' Sagawa reminisces over his grisly crime See in context

This is the guy the Rolling Stones wrote the song 'Too Much Blood' about. He was a celebrity for a while. His book about the crime sold quite well. But in the end, the guy was, and still is, mentally unbalanced. I don't think he was truly responsible for the crime. At the same time, he should never have been allowed to walk free.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Posted in: WWII firebombings of Japanese cities largely ignored See in context

It really is time to let the past fade into history and get over it. NO country that ever waged war has clean hands. They all did horrible things. It's time to get over it and let it rest in peace while trying very hard to prevent it ever happening again. There is no such thing as a noble or honorable war, War is, plain and simple, to kill as many of the enemy as possible. But to keep dragging it up, never letting it rest, only increases the tension and hatred between people's that starts the damn wars in the first place. One only has to look at the tension and hatred between China and Japan to see this clearly. And what good is it doing for either country?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Posted in: WWII firebombings of Japanese cities largely ignored See in context

S'truth, I only learned about these events myself maybe a month ago. And I'm an American. This stuff didn't make it into the history books. And it's odd to compare the total carpet bombing of cities like Dresden in Germany, which the military and government seemed quite proud of, though horrendous, and the fact that seemed almost to hide the same thing in Japan. very odd, indeed. But while I do tend to study the history of WW2 and the war with Japan, I don't study it deeply enough, as a writer, to analyze these things. Perhaps there should be a companion anime movie to barefoot gen to tell this story.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Posted in: China urges Japan not to lose its conscience over WWII guilt See in context

Jimizo is right about some of what he says. Abe and others do try far too hard to whitewash history. but I don't think Japan needs to show more remorse. Enough is enough. but whitewashing the history doesn't help and is doomed to fail. Because people remember. Most of the people alive today were not directly affected by these events, just as I was not a victim of what was done to my people. to keep pushing and pushing just breeds hate and hostility, and attempting to whitewash it only makes that worse.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Posted in: China urges Japan not to lose its conscience over WWII guilt See in context

nothing like holding a grudge and rubbing it in every chance you get, I guess. Yeah, THAT'S what the world needs more of, pissing and moaning and whining about stuff that happened 70 years ago while most of the world is going to hell with terrorists and insanity.

Maybe Japan should gently 'remind' China of the atrocities and horrors that occurred during the insane destruction of China and its culture during Mao Tse Tung's dictatorship. Not to mention a few things that still occur as the old school communists watch their regime slowly dying off and becoming senile. NO country is clean of horrors. Being a native American, though I much prefer Indian, I could have some rather serious complaints of my own. but my people aren't without our own atrocities and horrors.

Time to let this pass into history, let the wounds heal and live in the modern world where we have very real atrocities like ISIS facing us. Better to live in the world as it is than to repeat the past because you refuse to let it pass into history.

Japan, at least, has handled their past, both the things they did and the things that were done to them, with a certain amount of grace and dignity, and in a manner which one can respect.

It's like this. My dad fought and was seriously wounded in Korea. Yet, in his later life, one of his best friends in the world was a Korean man named Butch. There's forgiveness there, and respect. Both of which the world could use far more of.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Posted in: 2 school girls hyperventilate while being shown IS documentary See in context

I love kawaii as much as the next person. but you have to live in reality. These students SHOULD be aware of what animals ISIS are. Because the way things are going, they may well have to face it in person one day.

That said, however, while I do not feel the teacher did any wrong, I think he should have cleared it with the school authorities, or whoever he needs to clear stuff with. I have, however, a sneaking suspicion that, before there was this very minor incident, the school would have approved it, and all they doing now is covering their asses.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Posted in: Man arrested for beating 4-month-old daughter See in context

While it's not certain he did anything, what kind of human being would hit a four month old baby?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: 'American Sniper' triggers angry debate See in context

If Michael Moore hates it, I',, probably like it. I consider Michael Moore an ignorant ass. I don't know, however, that I'm comfortable making a hero of basically a cold blooded killer. It's a job I know is necessary, a job that has to be done. But any sniper is not putting his life at risk, which is one hallmark, I think, of a hero. Knowing that your life's on the line and stepping out and doing it anyway. A sniper's just a good shot, not a hero. Evidently, however, America is filled with so many people who blindly hate any and all Muslims that anyone who kills Muslims is seen as a hero. Sad, really.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Posted in: Too white, too male: Oscar nominations under fire See in context

I work in the movie business, though certainly not at the Academy level. When it comes to the awards. Black actors are definitely underrepresented. native American actors are just getting a foot in the door. Asian actors are virtually invisible. The fact that Tak Sakaguchi has not been cast to star in a major American movie is a freakin crime, as I see it. I could mention a dozen other actors, male and female who should be getting attention.

I used to be a great fan of the Academy Awards. But the last few years, they've become a joke, offending both my taste in films and my love of movies. And the sad fact is, the vast majority of the people who do the voting don't even watch most of the movies up for nomination. Way I see it, if you're privileged to vote, watch the damn movies or give up your vote. And get some normal people voting. I'd watch the movies and vote, but I don't have enough credits to be in that exalted position.

The situation needs to change. It used to be an honor to receive an Oscar. Now, it's almost a mark of shame.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Posted in: South Korean to drop Sony film in North by balloon See in context

It seems like a very bad idea to me. Rub salt in the wound and North Korea may react violently.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Posted in: Woman stabbed by husband's acquaintance at home in Osaka See in context

Yup, sounds like more than an acquaintance to me. At least a want to be. Otherwise, what motive, apart from a sudden madness?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Smoke haters go after smokers with a vengeance See in context

I smoke. I try to be considerate. If it's posted as non smoking, I don't smoke. If someone asks me politely if I would mind not smoking, I generally do so. But get in my face about it, acting like a maniac and I will react, badly. Non smokers do not have the right to act like fascists or to control other people's lives. If you want me to respect your request not to smoke, you need to respect my right to do so in appropriate circumstances.

0 ( +4 / -5 )

Posted in: Cashews for Christmas: A gift of good health See in context

Pistachios are my all time favorite nut, but cashews and walnuts are most definitely 2 and 3. For some reason people don't seem to think about how healthy many nuts are. Pistachios and cashews are almost complete foods, on their own.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Sex is going public, but decorum is fighting a losing battle See in context

Men giving up on women? Not in MY life. As far as the story, far rather sex than violence.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Scarecrows outnumber people in dying Tokushima town See in context

Part of me finds this terribly tragic, a matter of losing history. Another part of me wants to find a nice house in the mountains and spend the rest of my days there. Maybe I could be the youngest person in the village. That would be a change.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Japan can't print people See in context

Okay, what the hell does that title mean? What is 'printing' people and what does it have to do with economics?

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Posted in: Sony takes hard look at streaming after Taylor Swift snub See in context

As someone who was a recording artist, oh, many years ago when studios routinely ripped artists off, pay the musicians what they deserve. No pay no music. Where's your entertainment business going to be then? The world is no longer a place where musicians will take the screwing because they have no choice if they want their music out there. I have great respect for Sony, actually. I hope they can come up with a solution that's fair to everyone concerned.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Why does 'Engrish' happen in Japan? See in context

Many years ago, film makers in Hong Kong who made films for export to the West, learned that English speakers loved it when subtitles became hilariously mangled. It then became a trend to do this on purpose for films which would be seen in America and other English speaking countries. This amusement factor is also why sites like Engrish.com exist at all. I don't think that's a bad thing. It's one of the reason so many Westerners love Japan, really.

Me, when I knew I was going to live and work in Japan, I made it my business to learn to speak the language. Matter of respect innit. And a funny thing happened. People became far more friendly and hospitable. I was shown far more respect at work and bars and clubs that had previous been 'No Gaijin' were happy to open the doors for me and welcome me. What a wonderful surprise. But, like most Westerners, I am often amused by 'engrish'.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Posted in: Man revives woman with AED, but branded 'pervert' for removing her clothes to apply electrode pads See in context

I read no indications that the accident was, or was not, the driver's fault. It could go either way. However, thinking logically, knowing the driver was essentially uninjured and that the passenger was injured severely enough to require defibrillation, my guess is that the car was T-boned on the passenger side. Which could go either way as to fault.

I do think people are being unduly harsh to the driver. He made mistakes. I'm assuming the passenger wasn't his wife, as I expect the news story would have mentioned that. My first guess is that she was a workmate who he was driving home, something they could have well been doing for a long while. Though I do feel that the diver should have been doing something to help his passenger. Then again, he may not have known what to do. Most people don't. He did overreact and I'm with several others here, I do think he owes the man who saved his passenger an apology and a good night out.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: 3 Chinese men arrested for buying too many diapers See in context

What an incredibly stupid thing to arrest people for. I mean, seriously, who cares if they bought diapers to send home. So what if they make a little money from it. Free enterprise. If China had more free enterprise, they wouldn't have to travel to get diapers. And why isn't Japan exporting those evidently highly desirable diapers to China?

What are you in for?

I bought diapers.

Yeah, that's great jailhouse conversation.

9 ( +18 / -9 )

Posted in: Man revives woman with AED, but branded 'pervert' for removing her clothes to apply electrode pads See in context

This is what the world has come to?

I'm pretty sure that the woman whose life he saved doesn't much care that he saw her breasts. And if he's the kind of guy that has the balls to act and save someone's life, I'm also sure he wasn't paying attention to them. I'm also pretty sure I know who the real pervert in that little scenario was. nor did the real pervert make any move to save the woman's life.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

Posted in: The other Nobel winners See in context

These Nobel prizes are earned by far more worthy recipients than there have been in many years.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Car being chased by police crashes, killing driver See in context

The cost of being a moron. If you're gonna do stupid crap, you have to be prepared to pay the consequences.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Posted in: EU, Japan press for U.N. war crimes probes in North Korea See in context

What are they gonna do, send a harsh letter to Kim Jong unsane? They can SAY anything they want. Him doesn't care and they're not going to send military forces in to start a war.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Solitary seniors who seek soul mates descend into stalking See in context

Frungy is right in his assessment of the basic differences between psychiatry and psychology. Psychiatrists prescribe the meds in cases where meds can help. We psychologists study everything. it's kind of like this. A psychiatrist will say depression is based on a chemical imbalance in the brain. A psychiatrist will say in some cases that's true, but in many cases people have genuine reasons for being depressed and it's those reasons that need to be addressed and the person taught how to change their thought patterns.

I'm also an old man. And alone. I hate it. I don't do well without a woman. But, there are manners and common sense to consider. I might ask a woman if she would like to have coffee or tea with me, but if she says no, I walk away. That's it. Anything more is pressing your luck. Why would a woman want to be with anyone who shows by their actions that they are not a nice person?

3 ( +3 / -1 )

Posted in: Volcano victims left photos of last moments See in context

For some reason, the fact that the photos survived the people makes me sadder than anything else.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: The ugly truth of 'gokon,' Japan’s group blind dates See in context

"I saw the effects of a 'gokon' yesterday Sitting down on the train floor,3 girls (adults?) singing anime songs in unison-all this at 3pm in the afternoon. Sorta pathetic really........"

Oh I dunno. Those sound like the kind of girls I'd like to meet. They sound like they were having great fun.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Could Islamic State reach Japan? See in context

"s there an immediate threat to Japan from this group, I don't think so, however, I think its pretty clear that unquestionable dogma of any kind can be dangerous."

I think there's an immediate threat to every country. This is some scary stuff. I honestly think we are possibly looking at the start of world war 3 here. I hate war, I really do. I think it's incredibly stupid to kill people for what are, basically, silly reasons, and killing for religion is among the silliest. We should have evolved past killing each other by now. But honestly, I have to say that these people should be put down like rabid dogs. And I have great respect for most Muslims. But when you start killing and going to extremes for religious reasons, I think you've given up any right at all to call yourself a Muslim or to claim you're following Islam. Extremism in the name of religion violates everything that religion teaches. No matter WHAT religion it may be.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Posted in: 17-yr-old girl held for killing mother, grandmother in Hokkaido See in context

It's true, what Timmouton said. Oh I know, as much as I love Japan, that it has some very serious problems. But in America, in a great many large cities, this story wouldn't even make the news. Just another killing.

But I have noticed that there does seem to be a disturbing trend of kids and adults both killing their parents in Japan. Why this is happening, I don't know. I mean, every parent disciplines their kids. It's just part of the job of raising kids. But Japan, when i lived there, had the attitude that children were the parents most precious treasures. Has that changed?

I suppose everything changes. But to change so much that parents become fair game? All kids want freedom to do their own thing, but to kill for that freedom? That's just stupid, like their brains are completely dysfunctional and they have no clue that there are consequences. but then, I expect most people who kill are dysfunctional.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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